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Women in Trades Training

Okanagan College Women in Trades Training (WITT) is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund Agreement to encourage and increase the number of female apprentices in the Province of BC.

Okanagan College WITT offers two different sponsorship opportunities:

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women program and/or

Sponsorship for an Okanagan College skilled Trades Foundation programs

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women is an exploratory program for those who are unsure of which skilled trade is right for them. Participation in the Gateway program is not a requirement in an application for an OC trades Foundation program sponsorship.

WITT sponsorship applications for trades Foundation programs can only be accepted once the student has received a formal seat offer from the Okanagan College Registrar’s Office and secured their seat with a deposit. Gateway applications are sent directly to the Women in Trades Training office.

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women

Participants begin in the classroom learning safety and best practices for the shop and job site, they then begin working on hands-on projects individually and as a team.

The Women in Trades Training initiative is open to women of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. The WITT program might be right for you if you are a woman who is:
1. Unemployed and have not collected or been eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) over the past three years (or five years for receipt of maternity/parental benefits); or

2. Employed individuals working equal to or less than 20 hours per week, in which case, an individual is considered Unemployed. An individual who is working for no wages (i.e. volunteering) is not considered employed.

All eligible participants must also meet the following requirements:

Legally entitled to work in Canada

Living in BC

Not a high school student

Not participating in another Canada-British Columbia Job Fund Agreement-funded program

Program Schedule:

Length: 12 weeks

Monday-Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm and Friday 8:00am-12:00pm

Program Start Dates:

Kelowna: January 9 - March 31, 2017

Vernon: April 10 - June 30, 2017

Gateway Students Will:

Gain practical and theoretical experience in a wide variety of trades

Receive knowledge required to make an informed decision about which trade to enter

Upon completion on the program participants may seek direct entry into employment and/or
Apprenticeship opportunities or continue to build skills and apply to Okanagan College to enter one of many skilled trades Foundation training program and apply for further Women in Trades Training sponsorship.

Okanagan College Trades Foundation Programs

OC Women in Trades Training offers sponsorships for eligible and selected women in their pursuit of becoming a tradesperson by supporting Foundation training through Okanagan College. To apply for WITT sponsorship for Foundation programming at Okanagan College, applicants must have received and secured a seat offer.